Chapter 2

"Mr. Armando?" A voice called from across the cafeteria. I looked up from my coffee to see another one of my female co-workers heading towards me.

"Hello, kitten" I said, flashing her a grin. She simply rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Mr. Grossberg wants to see you" She said quickly, shuffling away from my table. Even though I couldn't remember her name, I knew she was a shy kitten.

"Sure thing" I winked, finishing off my coffee before taking my leave.

"Your such a flirt" She scowled, slapping my hand. I shrugged my shoulders. 'Plenty more fish in the sea' I told myself as I headed towards Mr. Grossberg's office. There wasn't one woman here that wasn't under my spell, even if they denied it. What could I say, I liked my women as much as my coffee. Well, maybe I liked coffee a little more. I knocked quickly on the door, annoyed to be interrupted from my lunch hour. Didn't I see my boss enough?

"Come in" I heard him call from behind the door. I rolled my eyes, preparing myself for another boring meeting. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I didn't enjoy my work. In fact, I was well known as one of Mr. Grossberg's best. It's just that meetings-especially during lunch-were so tiring and a large waste of time. "Ah, Diego" He smiled, gesturing towards the chair opposite him. I swiftly took a seat, slouching a little.

"Now I wanted to talk to you about a new rookie we have coming in" I rolled my eyes at his words. Another rookie? I really didn't have the time or the patience to train another rookie. "Don't underestimate her" Mr. Grossberg said quickly and I swear I could see something shining in the backs of his eyes as he said it. I sat up quickly to the word 'her'. "See, now your interested" He muttered to himself, rolling his eyes "Anyway, she's already here so your in charge of her training. After all you are one of my finest." My mind was distant as he talked on about whatever he was talking about as I tried to imagine this rookie. There were a lot of girls here, maybe she would just fit in with the rest. Still, it was another girl to wrap around my little finger, that's for sure. I saw the door open at the end of the office as Mr. Grossberg stood up quickly. A girl entered the room and, for a moment, I was speechless. Her face was beautiful. She had sparkling chocolate brown eyes, wide with excitement but as deep and dark as coffee, surrounded by thick lashes. She had long, flowing hair that reached her waist, the exact same colour as her eyes. She had an almost fiery look to her and I could sense her determination.

"Diego, this is Ms. Mia Fey" Mr. Grossberg said, interrupting the silence "Mia, this is Mr. Armando."

"Nice to meet you" she smiled, holding her hand out to me.

"Yeah" I muttered, shaking my head as I tried to draw my eyes away from her chest. I shook her hand, flashing her one of sexy grins. She paused for a second, studying my smile and I swear I could see her lips curving a little. But she quickly went back to the same expression and took her hand away from mine. "Well, Mr. Armando" Mr. Grossberg said swiftly "if you would start by giving Ms. Fey a tour, show her the new office and get to know her."

"Sure thing" I smiled again, waiting for the look in her eyes that said 'hook, line and sinker.' But she simply folded her arms across her chest and looked up at the ceiling impatiently. Ah, I see, she was going to be a tough one. This cute kitten had some claws. "Meow" I grinned as I lead her out of the door.

"And that concludes our tour" I smiled, leaning against the doorframe of Mr. Grossberg's office.

"Hmmm" Was all she could say. Even though I couldn't remember her name, this kitten stuck out from the rest. I didn't know what it was but something, something powerful, was pulling me into her, something I had never felt before.

"Ah, Ms. Fey!" I heard the boss call as he entered the room from the opposite door. I sighed heavily. There went my chances of getting to know her, slipping between my fingers. But at least I remembered her name now. Mia, Mia Fey. Mia brushed her fringe out of her eyes and smiled at her boss. "How was your tour?"

"It was very good" she giggled, her voice ringing in my ears. Mr. Grossberg looked at me, then at Mia, back at me. I shrugged and grinned widely at him, to which he simply rolled his eyes. "Well, if you'd like to get some lunch at the cafeteria" He continued, obviously talking to my student now "And come back to my office at 2.00pm with Mr. Armando for our current case reviews."

"Of course" Mia nodded, staying professional the whole time. I admired her enthusiasm, thinking of the last time I'd seen someone with this much determination. She looked a little shy but I was certain I could soon sort that out. As Mr. Grossberg headed back out of the room, I could sense the familiar feeling of my lips hungering for white porcelain, my throat burning for coffee.

"So, Kitten" I grinned as she scowled at her new found nickname. It seemed that this name suited her more than any of the other woman I had given it to. The fact that she looked so sweet and so innocent on the outside but yet still had the sharpest of claws up her sleeve. She knew how to fight back and I could see that. "You want to grab a coffee?" I asked, my voice soft and seducing. I didn't know what it was about this girl that drew me in to her so much. The sparkle in her eyes when she smiled innocently, the feistiness of her character, the beauty of her figure. It could have been all of those. But the thing that confused me most was, in fact, her answer. I expected a simple flick of the hair from my new student or even a slap around the face. But I defiantly wasn't expecting the reply I was given.

"Of course" she said quickly, her lips curving into a smile "but, Mr. Armando, strictly as mentor and student." I pressed my lips together to stop myself from laughing at her comment. It simply took me by surprise, how boldly she had said it. As if she knew I was practically falling at her feet already and I'd known her for just under two hours. She smirked as I held the office door open for her, letting her lead the way to the cafeteria and eyeing the way she moved in a tiny skirt.

"Sorry, Ms. Fey" I winked, flashing her a grin "But, I've been known to break promises like that."

"So, how long have you been working here?" Mia asked, taking another sip of her coffee. My own blend, 68 with milk and sugar. It was a rare drink for myself but she seemed to be enjoying it.

"Going on 8 years" I mused, counting back the years. She looked a little surprised that I had been working here so long and, to be honest, it left me a little surprised too. I hadn't realised it had really been that long. "I started here when I was 19, been here even since." I smiled, inhaling the dark, ground aroma of my coffee. Blend 102, straight black, my favourite.

"And, your family doesn't mind?" She whispered suddenly. I felt a jolt through my heart at her words. "I mean, about you working here so long" She said quickly, taking in my expression.

"No" I chuckled lightly, running my fingers through my coal black hair "I, um, I don't have any family left."

"I'm sorry" She said quickly, her voice almost, sad for me. I blocked out the memories by taking another gulp of scorching coffee, the burning of my throat a familiar and welcoming feeling.

"What about you?" I asked, changing the subject "Your family doesn't mind you working late?"

"No" Mia shook her head, her hands wrapped around her coffee cup "All my family are quite far away so I don't see them often." I smiled gently as her eyes looked up to meet mine.

"They must be proud of you" I smiled, playing with rings in my left ear.

"You'd think" She said glumly, staring back at her coffee "I mean, they're proud of what I've achieved but they had their sights set on me doing something different."

"Ah" I whispered, knowing almost exactly how she felt. 'You'll be a fireman' my mother had told me with a sincere look deep in her eyes 'I just know you will.' Of course, I don't think it was quite the same but it was similar. So, that's what I had my sights set on when I was younger. I stared at the large purple stone that hung around her neck, wondering what on earth it could mean. She seemed to notice me staring and smiled warmly.

"This had something to do with it" She said, taking it from around her neck and handing it to me. Our skin brushed lightly together as she placed it in my palm, making me shiver a little. Her flesh was warm, hot to the touch. I held the cold, hard stone flat in my palm, gazing at it in awe. It was oddly shaped and had a mysterious purplish glow to it, a stone I had never seen before.

"It's a magmata" She explained, seeing the confusion that swam in my eyes "It lets you see into other peoples hearts." I smiled warmly and wrapped the stone tightly in my hand, feeling it turn warm against my skin. I didn't ask- even though I didn't understand-how it worked but I felt that it was best left not said. Mia was more interesting than she looked, her eyes wide, her smile almost…elegant. As soon as I placed the magmata back in her hand, she stood up swiftly, finishing off her coffee. I glanced at the clock, realising we had talked for longer than I thought.

"Thank you" She whispered, grinning "That was…well, the best coffee I've had in ages." I smiled back, not really knowing whether she was talking about the actual drink or the time we spent together. But as she sauntered easily out of the cafeteria, her hips swaying slightly, I realised that my eyes were not the only ones in the room set on her.